Leaving Mexico - Knitters Beware!
While I have travelled to 5 countries in the last 6 mos, I have always gone through airport security with my knitting needles - plastic and metal. Yesterday upon departing Cancun airport (CUN) my needles (tiny #6 circular) were not allowed through Mexican security. I had the choice of going back to the tickent counter downstairs (a huge hassle) and checking my small knitting bag; I felt the chances of ever seeing that bag again were slim. I would then have to wait another 30 mins through the security line. My husband had alread gone to the gate while I was being held up & had my boarding pass so I would have had to hunt him down.
I did make the security employee show me proof that this was necessary. It was. He also made a lady in front of me toss her itsy bitsy folding scissors away. She also argued that she had always been able to bring them on board for sewing.
Lesson: you can knit on your way down to Mexico, but check all your needles and scissors in your luggage, do not bring them on as carry on on your way through security leaving Mexico.
I guess all countries have a right to their own securities requirements. Not only did we go through regular security, our hand luggage was also checked before boarding and then an agent in the Jet Way patted us down! Wow!
I appreciate the caution, but would have appreciated knowing this before hand. I will research all country security regulations in the future.

If you were flying to the US from Mexico, you would be traveling under US rules. Sorry you lost your needles - I have also had small, round-tip sewing scissors confiscated. Thanks for the heads-up.

I will be traveling from San Jose, Costa Rica to Buenos Aires next week and am really curious to see what security procedures are.

I've had similar experiences flying home from Central America.

This has been a recent change since the holidays when the plane in Detroit was in trouble. On the way day prior to the incident there was no patting down or going through hand luggage. On the way back in January there was a very intensive screening.

Yes, came back from a business trip in Oaxaca yesterday, very heavy security and multiple bag searches. I have never been so thoroughly searched before and they were doing it to everyone. Male line and female line.